Dr. Thomas Benda, jr
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Dubuque
36 years experience male
Locations
Dubuque ENT Head & Neck Surgery, PC
Dubuque
My office hours
Thursday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Show morePhone
Insurances accepted
Dean Health
United HealthCare Insurance Company
Wellmark Inc
About
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery
Allergy
Allergy and Immunology
Doctor Q&A
277 Answers
32 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Many things: Anything that causes an allergic reaction, usually an ige mediated reaction. Spring pollen allergens are tree pollens and molds. Summer is mostly gr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
No: We use it to thin secretions in the nose and throat, and make it easier to cough thick secretions up.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Surgery is an option: Surgery is an option for those who can't tolerate cpap. CPAP is the treatment of choice. Nasal surgery can sometimes lead to ability to tolerate cpa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Asthma: Coughing while laughing is a well known symptom of poorly controlled asthma. There are other possibilities. See an ENT allergist, general allergist ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Up to 75 bucks: As it is generic many of my patients pay a 5 dollar copay. Out of pocket i'm pretty sure the most you would pay is 75 dollars for a bottle that would... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
External otitis: Many of us would term this chronic external otitis. It's basically a condition of the skin of your ear canal. It is frequently caused by cleaning th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Worse with infection: Asthma does not cause a fever. Asthma can certainly worsen with a cold or other illness. If asthma requires daily use of his rescue inhaler he is no... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Probably nothing: The antibiotic is generally given to help improve pain. In some cases all it does is make you more nauseated. It's there to make you feel better. I... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Sinus infection: It depends on how long ago you had an adenoidectomy. If it was a few weeks ago, it can still be from surgery. If it was years ago, it could be sinus... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Oxymetazoline: Otc nose sprays containing oxymetazoline or neosynephrine (phenylephrine) are great at decongesting your nose in a hurry, without a lot of side effect... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Not likely: Tingling or itchy sensation in your throat this time of year is likely ragweed allergy. Chronic neck tension is more likely to cause neck, shoulder, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
See doctor: The two may not be related. I think nosebleeds this time of year are caused by irritation of the nose from allergy. Sinus infection could cause both... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Blood isn't normal: Blood in your mouth isn't normal. Certainly a little bit of bleeding occurs with flossing, not usually much with brushing teeth. If you're noticing ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Can't see pic: Unlikely at your age. If concerned, go see an ent.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: Depending on how much thyroid tissue is removed, patients may need thyroid hormone replacement after surgery. Sometimes only half of the gland is rem... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Hypopharynx: From top to bottom, nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx. Larynx divided into supraglottic larynx, glottis, subglottis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Astepro : Astepro is an antihistamine nose spray. We generally use it in allergy when steroid nasal sprays aren't enough to unplug your nose. It won't hurt yo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
For: For dust mite allergy, put your pillow in the freezer or dryer on high heat for a while to kill mite.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Productive cough: A upper respiratory viral infection will start in the nose and throat, causing clear drainage and sore throat. Towards the end it will generally spre... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
No: Enlarged tonsils are removed if they are a chief part of the problem in sleep apnea in adults, or if there is concern of a cancer. They are also remo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Possible, not likely: It's hard to gag yourself so bad you throw up, just as it's hard to punch yourself so hard you hurt something. There are diseases where you could los... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 69-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Not connected, but : But sounds serious. I can't imagine what nodule of lump on the back of your neck could produce vertigo. I would definitely have it checked out by an... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 48-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Depends on health: Healthy individuals are frequently started at 100 mcg of levothyroxine. Don't use armour thyroid. Less healthy individuals might be started at 50 mc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes, and no: It can be expected if you were in significant smoke, but it means there is some damage to the lining of your nose and throat. If you start having any... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Up to you: Some of my patients have used a saline sinus rinse daily for years. Make sure your bottle or netti pot are clean, don't forget to use salt, and use i... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Sinus drainage: As the antibiotics work, there should be decreased inflammation of the sinus openings. As they open, you will get increased drainage of pus from the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What could cause my jaws to have white spots and tongue to have edgy spots and a feeling of burning?
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Thrush: I'm not sure what you mean by "jaws", but white spots in the mouth with burning sensation frequently means a yeast infection of mouth and or throat. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
See a doc: I wouldn't be extremely worried, but do think you may have an incompletely treated sinus infection or other problem. Go get it checked out tomorrow.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
20 minutes: The d is the decongestant, and you should notice a response within 20 minutes, along with a little stimulation. The expectorant thins your secretion... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Possibly normal: Going through surgery is no picnic, it does take a while to recuperate. If your entire thyroid was removed, it takes awhile to normalize your thyroid... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 51-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
No: It's probably part of the same viral infection that stirred up your asthma. 4 weeks is a long time, however, so it may be time to see a doctor to see... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Size matters: In adults we usually shouldn't be able to feel lymph nodes. Having said that we're not usually concerned until we feel something that is one cm or la... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: The two will not affect each other. The chief side effects to look for with sudafed are hyperness, irritability, heart palpitations, and dehydration.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: Sudafed is commonly used for swollen nasal tissue in pregnancy, or "rhinitis of pregnancy". Be careful with it if you have high blood pressure or anx... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Ear drops: The most important thing is to get the ear cleaned out well. Secondly, a good antibiotic ear drop makes the symptoms go away faster. When it's sever... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes, : Yes, this can be repaired with a fairly simple procedure. It is considered cosmetic, so health insurance would not cover the surgery. The surgery is... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Probably: A middle ear infection that burst your ear drum and is draining may be a more aggressive infection. Take the Amoxicillin as prescribed. Your drainag... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Sometimes : Sometimes dry ear wax acts like a sponge and expands when it's soaked with water. That would be my guess in your case, that your ears are plugged wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Other injuries?: Hit in the head with what? Was the child unconscious, or just yelled for a while. A small child's nose has fairly hard nasal bones and resilient car... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
See your doctor: Dizziness can be many things. An unequal pupil and vision changes should be checked right away, usually by an eye doctor or a neurologist. Starting ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
See an allergist: The best treatment for allergic rhinitis is allergy shots. You need an evaluation by an allergist or ENT allergist. We have several medications that... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Irregular heart beat: See your primary care doctor for a physical and an ekg. There's not enough information to tell you anything but that you're not getting enough blood ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Use: Use 21 mg nicotine patches for at least 4 to 8 weeks before trying smaller dose patches.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Everyone's different: Many people prefer one product over another. It also depends on what symptoms you're trying to treat, and whether they are truly allergy or ige media... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Treat the irritation: Likely the dr was trying to say that you were heavily focusing on things that most people consider minor irritations. This is seen in depression. I ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
How long?: Sounds like an intestinal flu bug. Upset stomach, diarrhea lead to dehydration. This can make you feel lightheaded and give you a headache. Drink p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Yes: Saline nasal spray is safe , will not interactwith anything. So long as it is clean.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
That depends: Ear pain should be evaluated. An ear infection can lead to meningitis, hearing loss, chronic ear drum perforation and other problems. Some ear infec... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Go ahead: Orange juice should be fine with mono. Sometimes acidic drink might irritate your throat when you're sick, especially if the illness makes your throa... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old female asked:
Dr. Thomas Benda, jranswered
ENT and Head and Neck Surgery 36 years experience
Time to see ENT: I would recommend a complete head and neck exam by an ent. Sometimes people start to feel lumps that were always there, so compare to the other side... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
539
Thank you notes
Aug 27, 2012
Wonderfully detailed answers!
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Benda is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Benda is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
This was very helpful. Thanks! I never knew that the whiterners in the toothpaste would cause my tongue to be white. For years I've my dentist, dental hygienist and pcp couldn't tel
HealthTap member
This made me feel good. Thanks! I doubted because on dose specifications I saw much higher values for General Anesthesia, and 20mcg was for ICU sedation... so was confused
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thanks for the reply. I've seen an ENT and all he prescribed was amoxicillin and Zantac. Neither worked. Saw another doc and zpac didnt wrk
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Graduated 1987MD
Medical/Graduate school
The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, IA
Graduated 1987MD
Residency
University of Chicago Medical Center
Residency
University of Chicago
Awards
Resident Award, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy Resident Award 1993
Top Doctor, Second Place, Dubuque, IA - Winter
2013
Affiliations
American College of Surgeons
American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
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